The Italy coach, Nick Mallett, has made seven changes to his side for the Six Nations match against France at Stadio Flaminio on Saturday. The former South Africa coach has included eight players in his starting XV who play their club rugby in France.

Racing Métro's Andrea Masi replaces Luke McLean at full-back, a role he has not played for the Azzurri since February 2009. Treviso's Gonzalo Garcia starts in the centre after missing most of the past 12 months because of injury. He replaces Alberto Sgarbi. Tommaso Benvenuti will make his first start in the tournament on the right wing. Luciano Orquera replaces Kristopher Burton at No10 and the lock Quintin Geldenhuys drops to the bench, with Carlo Antonio Del Fava taking his place.

The Leicester prop Martin Castrogiovanni is the only player in the front row to keep his spot following the defeat by Wales. The Racing Métro players Andrea Lo Cicero and Carlo Festuccia come into the side.

Italy lost 24-16 to Wales last time out, having been beaten 59-13 by England at Twickenham. They lost 13-11 at home to Ireland in their first match.

The France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili has been ruled out of the match and will be replaced by Morgan Parra with Julien Tomas coming into the squad as a replacement. Yachvili has "suffered a bad bruise to the thigh which requires rest", France said in a statement on Thursday following medical tests.

Parra, 22, with 25 caps, had been considered France's starting scrum-half having played in the first two victories of the tournament against Scotland and Ireland. He was dropped for Yachvili in the third game, a defeat by England. Tomas, 25, has two caps as a replacement.